The meaning behind every face shape explained

There’s no denying the fact that people love personality tests. Whether it’s the Enneagram test, the Myers-Briggs personality test, or any other quiz that claims to tell people more about themselves, people eat them up. So, following that logic, it’s only natural that people would want to know what their face shape says about their personality. But does someone’s face shape really impact their personality and carry deep meaning with it? Well, it turns out that it just might.

In fact, a study from Science Daily found that face shapes are determined by genes, so the fact that there might be a deeper meaning behind what face shape you have is even more intriguing. Perhaps you’ve always been introverted or extroverted, spontaneous or a planner. No matter what face shape you have, there seems to be increasing evidence that it might say more about your personality than you might have previously thought.

So, do you have a square-shaped face? A round face? A heart-shaped face? Buckle up — because each face shape means something totally different, and you might find out more about yourself than you ever knew before. Here’s the meaning behind every face shape.

If you have a rectangular face shape, you may be a planner

A fairly common face shape people have is a rectangular one. But just what does a rectangular face entail? According to Today, a rectangular-shaped face is usually “longer than it is wide” and has a more square jaw. Kim Kardashian and Courteney Cox both have rectangular faces, so, if you’ve always been told you look like one of them, then you might have the same face shape! And, if you do, then you’re probably a planner, according to face-reading expert Jean Haner. Haner told Cosmopolitan that people with rectangular-shaped faces tend to have more Type-A personality traits than their rounded-face counterparts.

Haner told Cosmopolitan, “People with this type of face shape value logic and are really good thinkers, but they often overthink. They’re usually planners in some way and don’t often talk about their feelings.” That isn’t to say that all people who have rectangular faces are planners and thinkers, but, according to Haner, many are. Oh, and apparently many people with this face shape work out often — maybe to turn their brains off once in a while.

Men with rectangular face shapes might not be great in this field

In addition to being good planners, as noted by Cosmopolitan, people with rectangular-shaped faces are apparently not the best leaders. At least, that’s what one study found, according to Science Daily. The study looked at “55 male CEOs of publicly-traded Fortune 500 organizations” and their face shapes, as well as their company’s financial performances, to see if there was any correlation. And surprise, surprise — there totally was.

Researcher Elaine M. Wong from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee also found that men with wider faces and higher facial ratios did better in business. That is to say, people with square faces were proven to be better at business than people with rectangular faces. “In our sample, the CEOs with the higher facial ratios actually achieved significantly greater firm financial performance than CEOs with the lower facial ratios,” Wong told Science Daily. Of course, this isn’t to say that having a rectangular face will automatically make you a bad business leader.

People with round face shapes are usually considered to be trustworthy

Round faces are one of the most common shapes out there. But how do you know if you have a round face? Board-certified plastic surgeon Norman Rowe, who is based in New York, told Allure that a round face is pretty easy to spot. “Face shapes that are widest at the cheekbones are … typically a round face shape,” he said. So, if your cheekbones are wide and your face isn’t long, you probably have a round face. Additionally, if you’ve ever been told that you have a baby face, odds are your face is round. Hey, at least you look young!

But what does a round face mean? Well, according to Fast Company, people with a round face “are perceived to be more innocent, and consequently more trustworthy, than mature-faced people.” Obviously, that doesn’t mean that everyone with a round face will necessarily be the nicest people you ever meet, but there’s no denying the fact that Selena Gomez and Mila Kunis seem especially sweet.

People with round face shapes are typically kind… but may have this annoying trait

Advised by face-reading pro Jean Haner, The Stir reported that round-faced people “tend to think of and put others’ needs before their own.” Additionally, the site claimed that people with round faces are usually “totally selfless.” That would make someone with a round face a pretty altruistic person, but there is more to them than that one trait.

Sure, people with rounder faces might be nicer and more personable than people with other face shapes, but, according to Science Daily, a study from Case Western Reserve University also found that people with round faces tend to snore more. “Round-headed individuals tend to interrupt a good night’s sleep with snoring more than long, thin-faced people,” Science Daily reported.

So, having a round face means that you are kind and caring… though you may annoy your partner with your snoring. We wonder if Chrissy Teigen and Ginnifer Goodwin snore…

Are people with oval face shapes more social than people with other face shapes?

Having an oval face shape is actually a great physical trait. To determine whether you have an oval face, though, you need to take a long look in the mirror. “If the lower half of your [face] seems to be longer than the top, you have a long face,” makeup artist Desirae Cherman told Today. “Also the forehead will typically be the widest part of the face, while all the other features remain rounded and soft.”

According to a 2014 study from Carnegie Mellon University and Princeton University, as reported by the Daily Mail, there is an undeniable link between face shapes and perceivedpersonalities. And people with oval faces were perceivedto be more extroverted and friendly. Even though people with oval faces might not always be the most social butterflies out there, it’s thought that they’re typically pretty outgoing and know how to put people at ease with their words. Jean Haner, an expert at face reading, told Cosmopolitan, someone with an oval face “always knows all the right things to say, so they can make someone feel welcome and comfortable.”

The truth about the sex drives of people with oval face shapes

People with oval-shaped faces may have some issues in the bedroom — specifically, they may experience some trouble when getting intimate.

A study published in the journal Archives of Sexual Behavior in 2017, which was led by researcher Steven Arnocky of Canada’s Nipissing University and involved 145 undergraduates “who were in romantic relationships at the time,” found that the shape of someone’s face might actually signal how high their sex drive is. As Science Daily reported of the study, “Men and women with shorter, wider faces tend to be more sexually motivated and to have a stronger sex drive than those with faces of other dimensions.”

So, those with an oval face shape might not be into sex as much as people with wider faces. But hey, that doesn’t mean people with oval-shaped faces can’t appreciate having a good time!

Having a heart face shape may mean you're loving and creative

One of the more unique face shapes is a heart-shaped face. A heart-shaped face is characterized by a wider forehead that “strongly tapers toward the chin,” Norman Rowe, a plastic surgeon in New York, told Allure. Celebrities like Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington are both great examples of a heart-shaped face. Makes sense since people who have a heart-shaped face tend to be creative — and affectionate, too.

As Jean Haner, author of The Wisdom of Your Face, told Cosmopolitan, someone with a heart-shaped face is likely “extremely affectionate” and loves “to make other people feel special.” Having a heart-shaped face basically means that you wear your heart on your sleeve.

Additionally, people with heart-shaped faces “love stimulation and hate to be bored.” Finally, Haner added that people with heart-shaped faces are “highly creative and need to express that creativity outwardly, instead of just doing it privately.”

People with heart face shapes have natural beauty

In general, when people see a heart shape, they think of love and romance. It should come as no surprise then to learn that people love those lucky few who have a heart-shaped face. Makes sense why celebrities with heart-shaped faces like Reese Witherspoon are considered to be some of the most beautiful people out there.

Think of the most stunning faces you’ve seen. Did you realize Michelle Pfeiffer, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and Naomi Campbell all have heart-shaped faces? In addition to them being highly creative, as evidenced by their career fields, these women are all gorgeous. In fact, TheTelegraph reported that, according to a study led by facial mapping expert Dr. Chris Solomon, the ideal female face is heart-shaped. That said, there are still plenty of beautiful people who don’t have a heart-shaped face, but having that face shape does seem to be one determining factor of beauty. And when you look at people with heart face shapes, it makes total sense.

Having a triangular face shape may mean you're fiery and powerful

One not-so-common face shape is the triangular-shaped face. This face can be seen in celebrities like Minnie Driver and Geena Davis, and is really quite striking. A triangular-shaped face is defined by having a narrow forehead but wide jaw. Sometimes people with this face shape have sharper angles to their facial structure, which helps them come across as pretty powerful, which they are.

In fact, according to Little Things, which grabbed info from face-reading expert Jean Haner’s work with Cosmopolitan, someone who has a triangular-shaped face will probably be “creative, artistic, and sensitive,” but they can also be “fiery” when messed with too much. Additionally, the site reported that people with triangular-shaped faces often find great success because they have a “driven, determined nature.” Having a triangular-shaped face, then, might mean that you’re destined for greatness, and, as long as someone doesn’t cross you, you’re good to go.

Having a triangular face shape might be perceived as evil

Though having a triangular-shaped face can be an asset, as people may view you as powerful, there is one other kind of triangular face that might not be the best when it comes to how people see you. Specifically, if you have an inverted triangle face, then chances are, people probably perceive you as evil, even if you aren’t. In fact, there’s even scientific research that proves this specific face shape is most-often associated with villains.

According to Science Daily, a 2012 study from the University of Warwick found that “downward pointing triangles in particular convey negative emotions and we can pick up on them quickly and perceive them as a threat.” The findings make sense when you take a good look at how a lot of media portrays villains. Researcher Dr. Elisabeth Blagrove explained, “The classic baddie will often be drawn with the evil eyebrows that come to a downward point in the middle.” Because of that, many people might assume people who have triangle- or inverted-triangle-shaped faces are mean.

Someone with a square face shape may have a lot of fun

While pretty similar to a rectangular face, a square-shaped face is shorter than its longer counterpart and means something completely different. “With a square face shape, your forehead, cheekbones and jaw will be the same width, but your jaw will have sharp angles to it,” celebrity hairstylist Michael Duenas told Today. This is important to keep in mind when deciding on a new ‘do, as you should consider the best hairstyles for your face shape.

A person with a square face shape will usually be pretty popular and may have plenty of fun… in the bedroom. That’s right. A 2017 study published in Archives of Sexual Behavior found that the shape of someone’s face actually had a lot to do with sex drive, according to Science Daily – specifically people with wide, square faces. The study found that men with square faces “not only have a higher sex drive than others, but also are more easy-going when it comes to casual sex and would consider being unfaithful to their partners.” Having a square-shaped face isn’t exactly a precursor for being promiscuous, but theremay be a correlation there, so make of that what you will.

If you have a square face shape, it could mean you do well in business

In addition to people with square-shaped faces being more… adventurous in the bedroom, studies show they might also be better at business than other people with other face shapes. Yes, a study published in the Association for Psychological Science’s journal Psychological Science in 2011 looked at the face shape of certain CEOs compared to how well their company’s performed financially and actually found a connection. Specifically, CEOs who had a wide, square-shaped face had a better “financial performance” than the CEOs with more narrow faces, according to Science Daily.

But that’s not all. Science Daily also reported that, specifically, men who had a square-shaped face were usually seen by others as “less trustworthy,” but they themselves felt “more powerful” than men with narrow faces. Having a square-shaped face might just be the key to being good at business and handling your finances well, but it might also mean that people may not trust you as much as they’d trust someone with a round face.

A person with a diamond face shape may be detail-oriented

A diamond face shape is pretty common. Celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Taylor Swift, and Elizabeth Hurley are some public figures who serve as examples of a diamond-shaped face. Diamond-shaped faces differ from other face shapes by having high, wide-set cheekbones, narrow foreheads, and tiny chins, as noted by Today.

According to The Stir, people with diamond-shaped faces tend to be “perfectionists” and are “very detail-oriented.” Interestingly, many people view those with a diamond face shape as “difficult.” Indeed, people with diamond-shaped faces might be a little hard to handle, but one 2009 study published in the Association for Psychological Science journal Psychological Science even found that people with longer faces might be less inclined to anger and aggressive behavior than those with shorter faces, as reported by Science Daily. It’s unclear why exactly that is, but there was an indication that those with diamond-shaped faces weren’t as angry as those with square-shaped faces, despite their apparent reputation as divas.

Someone with a diamond face shape is probably great at communication

A person who has a diamond face shape might have a tendency to act with aggression, but that doesn’t mean they don’t try to communicate with their words first. Expert in face-reading Jean Haner told Cosmopolitan that people who have a diamond-shaped face “can be very precise with their words and [communicate] well.” However, Haner did add that “if you cross them the wrong way,” these people with diamond-shaped faces might go off on you. So perhaps when dealing with someone who has a diamond-shaped face, it might be better to speak with kindness.

Reader’s Digest reported that people with diamond-shaped faces make great neighbors and tend to be thought of as pretty trustworthy. Of course, someone who has a diamond-shaped face is usually also great at knowing exactly what they want and doing what it takes to get it, according to The Stir.